The Time Hunters and the Box of Eternity (26 page)

Chapter 24

The Black Head

Becky couldn
’
t leave the backroom quick enough. Still shaky, she trailed an
ashen-faced Joe to the bar where Uncle Percy had pulled Beattie to one side,
apologised profusely for the bloody state of the backroom and thrust a bag of
gold into her hand for any inconvenience caused. To his surprise, Beattie
laughed the whole thing off, saying she
’
d once found a pair of severed legs in the same
room after a particularly grisly bar fight.

‘
And the owner never
came back ter reclaim
‘
em, either!
’
she cackled, pointing at the far wall where the legs had been
proudly mounted as a trophy.

Becky looked over and retched.

Looking somewhat peaky himself, Uncle Percy quickly ordered two
bottles of rum for Mr Flint and made a bee-line for the door.

‘
Tis a shame yer didn
’
t keep the arm, me
dearies,
’
Beattie shouted as they walked off.
‘
It would
’
ve looked lovely on me limb wall…
’

Outside, Uncle Percy spent the next ten minutes patching up Will
’
s cheek with various
implements from Beryl
’
s medi-box. Even with his skilled work, Uncle Percy told Will he
would probably be scarred for life, which Will immediately dismissed with a
shrug of his shoulders and the words,
‘
I have more scars upon my person than a tree
has leaves.
’

Just as they were about to leave for the Black Head, Uncle Percy
filled Mr Flint
’
s water bowl with rum and everyone sat back to watch what happened
next.

‘
Through the mouth …
’
Mr Flint screeched
excitedly, his head dipping left and right. He drained the rum in one gulp,
gave a satisfied burp and squawked,
‘
Into the bowels …
’
Then he extended his wing, buried his face into his back
feathers, and closed his eyes. Soon, he was fast asleep and snoring loudly.

‘
Why exactly are we
taking an alcoholic bird with us?
’
Joe asked, picking up Mr Flint
’
s cage.

‘
I
’
m not exactly sure,
Joe,
’
Uncle
Percy replied weakly.

‘
Faatttsooo!
’
Mr Flint whimpered in
his sleep.

Joe nudged Becky.
‘
He must be talking to you.
’

Becky kicked Joe
’
s shin with such venom his howl of pain resembled one of Mr Flint
’
s squawks.
 

*

A short while later, they were weaving their way along the bustling
quayside, passing enormous gunships with names like The Ranger, The Orca and
The Adventurer. Gulls laced the air, swooping down and plucking bits of fish
off the jetties before returning to the silken blue sky.

But Becky couldn
’
t enjoy any of it. They were about to board a pirate ship, after
all, and her experience of pirates thus far didn
’
t indicate they were anything other than
drunken, violent thugs. However, her thoughts were interrupted when she saw
Uncle Percy remove something from his pocket, show it to a stunned looking Will
and Bruce, before promptly returning it. Her curiosity stirred, she was about
to question him when she heard Joe
’
s voice.

‘
I hope The Zit isn
’
t going to be like The
Argo.
’

Becky recalled the crushing sense of disappointment when they first
spotted Jason and the Argonaut
’
s legendary ship, The Argo, on Ancient Crete.
‘
If it is, then I
’
m swimming to Mary
Island…
’

‘
And there she is,
’
Uncle Percy said,
pointing ahead.

Forgetting all about Uncle Percy for a moment, Becky saw a two mast
Schooner with the name
‘
The Black Head
’
painted crimson on its bow. It had a narrow, chestnut brown hull,
and a bowsprit that made it look considerably longer than it actually was.
Relief swept through her. Although by far the smallest and oldest ship in the
harbor, it appeared to be robust and seaworthy. It did, however, look deserted.

Uncle Percy approached the ship
’
s stern.
‘
Er … Ahoy!
’
he shouted at the top of his voice.
‘
Anybody there?
’

Just then, Blind Hugh
’
s head peeked over the side, grinning.
‘
Welcome, me hearties.
’
Then he turned and
shouted.
‘
Avast
me bucko
’
s
… straighten yer baldrics and scrub up yer manners … our well-to-do guests be
here!
’
 

A dozen figures emerged from below deck and shuffled into line,
their arms (those that had them) clamped to their sides, their chests puffed
out proudly as if on parade. Scanning each of their faces, Becky had quite a
shock.
 
They were old. They were very
old. More than that, each appeared to have suffered a major disfigurement; most
had lost an eye, a hand, or a leg at the very least; some had lost all three.
Then Becky had a further surprise. Standing at the end of the line, head down,
was a young boy. He wore oil-stained breeches, a torn, collarless white shirt
and a raggedy Monmouth cap.

‘
Climb aboard, maties,
’
Blind Hugh said, his
arms open wide.
‘
Welcome to The Black Head.
’

‘
Thank you very much,
Hugh,
’
Uncle Percy smiled, carefully navigating a wooden plank onto the deck.

As Becky followed, she sensed a dozen wary eyes fall upon her.
Feeling suddenly on edge, she was about to say something when a one legged
pirate with an orange nose like a kumquat spoke up,
‘‘
Ere, Hugh, ya never
said nuthin
‘
bout bringin
’
no woman on board. Ye should know they bring the worst of luck.
’

Blind Hugh laughed heartily.
‘
Jedidiah Quint, what you be thinkin
’
? As yer well know,
where we be goin
’
the last thing ter worry about is some lass. Besides, none of you
seadogs have had any blasted good luck in yer lives, so what does one girlie
sharin
’
yer deck matter?
’

Jedidiah Quint appeared to mull this over, then smiled.
‘
You ain
’
t wrong there, Hugh.
’
He tugged his bandana
from his forehead and turned to Becky.
‘
I be beggin
’
yer pardon, miss. I fink me manners got flung
out with the bilge water.
’
He glanced at Uncle Percy.
‘
Our ship is your ship, sir. Ain
’
t that right, lads?
’
One by one, each man
nodded and shouted their welcome.

‘
Now that be more
fittin
’
,
’
Blind Hugh said.
‘
Anyhow, Percy Halifax
and company, this shoddy lot be the heart and soul of The Black Head. There
’
s Short Jack Copper,
Windy Pete McGuiness …
’

As each name was read out, the corresponding pirate shouted,
‘
Aye.
’

‘
Elbert Fridge,
’
Blind Hugh
continued.
 
‘
Jedidiah Quint, Burly
Bill Brundle Skinny John Prinny, William Turnip, Hunchback Henry Brody, Alf
‘
Lockjaw
’
Morgan, Hairy Harry
Hooper, One Toe Tom, and last but ne
’
er least, Jim Dorkins …
’

A silence hung in the air after the last name was read out.

‘
Jim?
’
Blind Hugh said at
once.
‘
Where
are ya, lad?
’

Timidly, the young boy stepped forward.
‘
Here, Mr Livesy, sir.
’

‘
Don
’
t yer be shy, Jim lad.
He
’
s the
real treasure of The Black Head,
’
Blind Hugh declared warmly.
‘
Ain
’
t he, boys?
’

Every single man bellowed their agreement, many of them patting Jim
’
s back with such force
he was nearly knocked off his feet.

Blind Hugh beamed with pride.
‘
Jim
’
s also the finest powder monkey on the seven seas.
’

Jim blushed.
‘
Thank you, Mr Livesy, sir.
’

Uncle Percy bowed graciously.
‘
Then hello, Jim. And hello to you the rest of
you. My name is Percy Halifax, this is Will Shakelock, Bruce Westbrook and
Becky and Joe Mellor.
’

‘
Old Man
’
s Beeeeeeeard!
’
Mr Flint
screeched.
 
‘
Through the mouth …
’

‘
Oh, yes,
’
Uncle Percy grinned.
‘
And, of course, we
mustn
’
t
forget Mr Flint.
’

A pirate stepped forward, every inch of his head, face and body
coated in shaggy grey hair so he resembled a shagpile carpet.
‘
I knows that creature,
’
Hairy Harry Hooper
said.
‘
That
be Israel Hands
’
parrot! Never seen him without the creature…
’
He paused for a
moment.
‘
So
Israel is dead, eh?
’

Uncle Percy nodded.
‘
Yes.
’

‘
So tis true yer be
goin
’
after Blackbeard
’
s treasure?
’

There was an awkward silence. The pirates exchanged hesitant looks.

‘
Yes.
’
Uncle Percy replied
simply.

‘
And ye know where it
lies?
’
One
Toe Tom asked.

Uncle Percy gave a sharp shake of his head.
‘
Not at the moment.
What I do have is this…
’
He withdrew the map from his jacket pocket and unfolded it before
the crew.
‘
This map was drawn by Hands, himself.
’
Then he pulled out the block and positioned it
over the island in the far corner.
‘
And this, I believe, was carved by him. That is Mary Island...
’
A collective gasp
rang out.
‘
And if you can get us to the island I believe we can find the
treasure.
’

Hairy Harry Hooper didn
’
t look convinced.
‘
And how can ye be sure o
’
that? I
’
m doubtin
’
Blackbeard would leave it on the beach
‘
neath a coconut tree
fer all ter find!
’

‘
I have my reasons,
’
Uncle Percy said
mysteriously.

Joe glanced at Becky, who threw him a puzzled look. What did Uncle
Percy mean? As far as either of them knew, he hadn
’
t a clue where to look
for the treasure.